Suhani Jolata is Building a Platform of Change For Women in India

Deeply entrenched stigmas and taboos are hard to overcome. But if there’s anyone who can effect transformational change it would have to be Suhani Jalota, the social entrepreneur Dr. Dweck and Rachel welcome on this episode of The Busine$$ of the V. She has not only founded the visionary Myna Mahila Foundation to educate and debunk disempowering myths about menstruation prevalent in India, she’s ultimately seeking to do nothing short of revolutionize the Indian economy to equalize the power of women within their households. It’s an amazing agenda for anyone, but particularly for such a young woman.

Suhani has secured a PhD in Health Policy and Economics as well as an MBA at Stanford while overseeing the mission of the Myna Mahila Foundation, which was founded in 2015 to provide a voice for adolescent girls and women in marginalized communities. She is building a team and network for young female entrepreneurs and leveraging technology to provide access to job opportunities throughout the world – work that has not gone unnoticed. She has been honored with the 2017 Queen's Young Leader Award and featured in the Forbes Asia 30 under 30, not to mention receiving an invite to Meghan Markle’s royal wedding. (Yes, the experience was amazing!)

You’ll learn about the origins of her vision (as an undergrad), the cultural barriers her organization is breaking down and what is on the horizon for a young woman who clearly has barely begun the work she intends to do. It’s exciting and heartening for Rachel, who shares an alma mater (Duke University) and longtime alliance with Suhani. “The gender attitude has to change,” says this social entrepreneur. And she’s developing the tools, network and platforms to do exactly that!

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